🥾 Hiking Pa.’s toughest trail | Morning Newsletter
And talking tents down the Shore.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Good morning. A gorgeous, sunny Sunday is in store.
In today’s main read, rural reporter Jason Nark takes us along on a hike of Pennsylvania’s most torturous trail. He had just 2.5 days to get through 43 miles.
Farther down, meet the youngest scholar studying neuroscience at Ursinus College.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.
In Pa., there are about 473 trails that are ranked “hard” on the popular AllTrails app.
At the top of that list is the Black Forest Trail in the Tiadaghton State Forest, which is widely considered the state’s most difficult by hiking enthusiasts.
🌲 Black Forest is named after the dense trees that line and shade the landscape.
🥾 With nearly 8,500 feet of elevation gain, it requires the most climbing per mile of all other Keystone State hikes. Completion means a multiday expedition.
😮💨 On his trek, Jason encountered a rattlesnake, battled nausea, and powered through with trembling legs. But he also found a gorgeous campsite, stunning vistas, and a rewarding experience.
Finish the challenging hike with Jason.
Keep going: From stroller strolls to flat boardwalks and steep climbs, our quiz matches you with the exact kind of Philly-area trail you’re looking for. Find your new favorite hike here.
🎤 Now I’m passing the mic to higher education reporter Susan Snyder.
Aiden Wilkins’ biggest worry about his first college class was whether his 4-foot-4, 65-pound frame would fit right in the desk.
“What if I’m too short for the seat?” he said. “What If I’m getting looked at? What if people are saying, ‘What are you doing here?’”
At age 8, he’s the youngest student Ursinus College has ever enrolled in a course, and while he may be shorter than other students in stature, his teachers think he’s likely to measure up just fine in performance.
The Royersford student, who wants to be a pediatric neurosurgeon, is taking an entry-level neuroscience course at the small private liberal arts college in Collegeville as a dual enrollment class through his high school. He is entering his sophomore year at the online Reach Cyber Charter School, after advancing quickly through the earlier grades and making distinguished honor roll last spring. — Susan Snyder
Keep reading on Wilkins’ journey and his early intelligence.
What you should know today
SEPTA is telling riders to hold off on purchasing monthly and weekly passes for September while the agency works to accommodate a court order that blocked its planned fare increases.
A man wanted for allegedly killing his grandfather in South Jersey was apprehended last week in a parking garage at Villanova University.
Amid high-profile firings and resignations at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Philly health officials say patients should consult with their doctors to navigate an uncertain environment around vaccinations for both children and adults.
Patients in Delaware now have stronger protections from medical debt affecting their credit score than do residents of many states, including Pennsylvania.
On college campuses nationwide, many dorm rooms now look like they belong in interior-design magazines. In the Philly area, students and parents are putting more time, effort, and money into crafting these TikTok-worthy designer spaces.
A Philly lawyer is helping LGBTQ+ couples plan their estates to further protect their marriages under the Trump administration.
In Ocean City, uncertainty, recrimination and a new idea for Wonderland Pier.
A Penn State graduate now has naming rights to Beaver Stadium, thanks to a $50 million donation that will go toward remodeling it.
Tents are everywhere at the Jersey Shore. But how many is too much?
Evan Weiss recruited two Jersey Inquirer staffers, Jason Nark and Shore resident Amy S. Rosenberg, to weigh in on this touchy topic. Here’s a preview of their conversation.
Evan: Should Shore-goers use shade tents or large canopies on the beach? And at what point is it beachspreading?
Amy: The war against the tents is over. It’s a CoolCabana world out there.
Jason: The genie isn’t going back in the bottle. Cabanas, canopies, and Shibumis are here to stay. A regular, old beach umbrella feels quaint, but that’s what I use.
Amy: The only limit at the Jersey Shore has to do with how shameless you are.
❓Pop quiz
A record _____ people attended Furrydelphia this year, a 35% jump from 2024.
A) 4,500
B) 10,200
C) 3,700
D) 5,300
Think you know? Check your answer.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: South Philly bar and haven for vegan comfort food
RATING RELEVANT
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Roserita Fratoni who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Girard Estates. The South Philadelphia neighborhood was the site of a mob-style killing 26 years ago. The incident was back in the news last week when a neighbor was arrested for the crime.
As we bid August adieu, we also get to enjoy a mix of late summer goodies and fall’s early bounties. In a new visual project, photojournalist Monica Herndon captures and celebrates nature’s artistry through our local farmers.
🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “Now I know better, never let me / Leave home without a parachute.”
One more musical thing: The Sting and Shaggy bromance continues. Ahead of their One Fine Day Festival on Sept. 6, pop critic Dan DeLuca has the story on why the duo keeps coming back to Philly.
👋🏽 That’s it for now. As a reminder, here’s what’s open and closed on Labor Day. This newsletter will be back on Wednesday. Until then, take care.